Baseline benthic foraminiferal assemblages and habitat conditions in a sub-Arctic region of increasing petroleum development

The aim of this study is to establish pre-impact baseline conditions for an Arctic region where petroleum activities are projected to increase in the coming decades. We characterize the spatial distribution of living benthic foraminifera in the Tromsøflaket–Ingøydjupet region of the Barents Sea and relate this to sediment properties and their associated metal concentrations. Metal concentrations of the sediments did not exceed threshold levels of harmful environmental effects, indicating that the area exhibits pre-impact baseline conditions. Foraminiferal assemblages reflect the pristine environment. Epifaunal species dominate in Tromsøflaket, a high energy environment characterized by coarse grained sediments. Infaunal species dominate in Ingøydjupet, a low energy environment characterized by fine grained sediments. Metal concentrations were slightly elevated in the fine grained sediments from Ingøydjupet which suggest that these areas may in the future serve as trapping zones for contaminants associated with discharges from nearby petroleum sites.